Medical system

ABSTRACT

An endoscope surgery system is provided, as a medical system, to be easily used by a user who is not used to the operation. An endoscope operation system includes a trolley and a remote controller. The trolley includes a plurality of medical devices (having a TV camera for an endoscope, a light source device, pneumoperitoneum equipment, an electric knife, and a VTR). Further, the trolley includes a system controller for radio communication with the medical devices, and an operation panel and a display panel for operating the system controller. The system controller detects operation states of the plurality of medical devices, determines the medical device to be operated next based on the detection result, and displays, on the operation panel or the display panel, an operation screen of the medical device or a screen for information on the operation state based on the determination result.

[0001] This application claims benefit of Japanese Application No.2002-273567 filed Sep. 19, 2002, the contents of which are incorporatedby this reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a medical system, and moreparticularly, to a medical system such as an endoscope surgery systemhaving a plurality of medical devices including an endoscope.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Recently, medical institutions use a system having a plurality ofmedical devices.

[0006] As one of the above-mentioned systems, Japanese Unexamined PatentApplication Publication No. 6-114065 discloses an operation devicecontrolling system which controls the medical devices by previouslycommunicating with them.

[0007] In the operation device controlling system disclosed in JapaneseUnexamined Patent Application Publication No. 6-114065, a user operatesthe medical devices on an operation panel. In this case, first, the userselects the medical device to be operated by the operation panel. Next,the user selects a function after selecting the medical device.Sequentially, the user performs the operation of the selected function.

[0008] Thus, above three operation steps must be executed to perform acourse of operations of the medical device.

[0009] Further, in the operation device controlling system disclosed inJapanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 6-114065, firstof all, the user selects the medical device and, next, he selects thefunction. Hence, the user needs sufficient information of the medicaldevices.

[0010] In other words, the operation of the above-mentioned conventionaloperation device controlling system is extremely hard and complicatedfor the user who is not used to the system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providea medical system such as an endoscope surgery system which is easilyoperated by a user who is not used to the operation thereof.

[0012] Briefly, according to the present invention, an endoscope surgerysystem having a plurality of medical devices including an endoscope,comprises an operation state detecting means which detects operationstates of the plurality of medical devices, a device determining meanswhich determines the medical device to be operated next based on adetection result of the operation state detecting means, and a screencontrol means which displays, on a predetermined display means, anoperation screen of the medical device or a screen for information onthe operation state of the medical device based on a determinationresult of the device determining means.

[0013] These and other objects and benefits of the present inventionwill be described in detail and will be apparent.

[0014] Further, according to the present invention, in the case ofoperating one of a plurality of medical devices, a control screen and ascreen for setting contents of the medical device are automaticallydisplayed. Therefore, it is possible to provide a medical system such asan endoscope surgery system, in which a medical device is easilyoperated by a user who is not used to the system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the schematic structureof an endoscope surgery system according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0016]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of asystem controller according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0017]FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing in detail a control unitof the system controller according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0018]FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a remote controller according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 5 is a front view showing an operation panel according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention;

[0020]FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the systemcontroller according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0021]FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a main screen displayedon the operation panel according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0022]FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a main screen displayedon a display panel according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0023]FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen for operating anelectric knife displayed on the operation panel according to the firstembodiment of the present invention;

[0024]FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen for informationon an operation state of the electric knife displayed on the displaypanel according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0025]FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a main portion of a systemcontroller in an endoscope surgery system according to a secondembodiment of the present invention;

[0026]FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen for playing avideo tape of a VTR according to the second embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0027]FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the connection between asystem controller and a hospital network according to a third embodimentof the present invention;

[0028]FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a main portion of the systemcontroller in the endoscope surgery system according to the thirdembodiment of the present invention; and

[0029]FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing the data structure ofordering information according to the third embodiment of the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] Hereinbelow, a description is given of an example of applying thepresent invention to an endoscope surgery system as a medial systemaccording to embodiments of the present invention.

[0031] The endoscope surgery system according to the first embodiment ofthe present invention will be described hereinafter with reference toFIGS. 1 to 10.

[0032] First, a description is given of the schematic structure of theendoscope surgery system according to the first embodiment withreference to FIG. 1.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 1, a patient bed 3 on which a patient 2 liesand an endoscope surgery system 11 are arranged in an operation room 1.The endoscope surgery system 11 comprises a trolley 12 and a remotecontroller 30.

[0034] The trolley 12 comprises a television camera for the endoscope(hereinafter, referred to as a TV camera) 13, a light source device 14,pneumoperitoneum equipment 15, an electric knife 16, and a video taperecorder (hereinafter, referred to as a VTR) 17.

[0035] An endoscope 31, a distal side of a pneumoperitoneum tube 32, anda probe 33 for the electric knife are transfixed into the patient 2.

[0036] The TV camera 13 for the endoscope is connected to the endoscope31 via a camera cable 31 a. The light source device 14 is connected tothe endoscope 31 via a light guide cable 31 b.

[0037] A proximal side of the pneumoperitoneum tube 32 is connected tothe pneumoperitoneum equipment 15 and receives gas for pneumoperitoneumfrom the pneumoperitoneum equipment 15.

[0038] The probe 33 for the electric knife is connected to a main bodyof the electric knife 16 via an electric cable 33 a.

[0039] The trolley 12 has a monitor 18 which displays an endoscope imagepicked up by the TV camera 13 for the endoscope. The VTR 17 records theendoscope image picked up by the TV camera 13 for the endoscope.

[0040] The endoscope operation system 11 according to the firstembodiment comprises a plurality of medical devices, for example: anendoscope system (also referred to as a first medical device) having theendoscope 31, the camera cable 31 a, the TV camera 13 for the endoscope,the light source device 14, and the light guide cable 31 b; an electricknife system (also referred to as a second medical device) having theprobe 33 for the electric knife, the electric cable 33 a, and theelectric knife 16; a pneumoperitoneum system having the pneumoperitoneumtube 32 and the pneumoperitoneum equipment 15; and the VTR 17 forrecording image data indicating the endoscope image captured by theendoscope system operation system 11 to a predetermined recordingmedium.

[0041] Further, the trolley 12 comprises a system controller 20 forradio communication with the above medical devices, an operation panel21 for operating the system controller 20, and a display panel 22. Theoperation panel 21 and the display panel 22 are connected to the systemcontroller 20 via dedicated cables, respectively.

[0042] The system controller 20 detects operation states of theplurality of medical devices, determines a predetermined medical deviceto be operated next based on the detection result, and displays, on theoperation panel 21 or the display panel 22, an operation screen of thepredetermined medial device to be operated next or a screen forinformation on the operation state of the predetermined medical deviceto be operated next based on the determination result.

[0043] That is, a signal from the TV camera 13 for the endoscope isreceived by a control unit 46 via a radio communication unit 45. Inaccordance with the signal, the control unit 46 detects and determinesthe operation state of the endoscope system as the first medical device,forecasts the operation to be operated next based on the determinationresult, and displays, on the operation panel 21 or the display panel 22,the operation screen forecasted as the next operation based on theforecasting result.

[0044] For example, a signal from the electric knife 16 is received bythe control unit 46 via the radio communication unit 45. In accordancewith the signal, the control unit 46 detects and determines theoperation state of the electric knife 16 as the second medical device,forecasts the operation to be operated next based on the determinationresult, and displays, on the operation panel 21 or the display panel 22,the operation screen forecasted as the next operation based on theforecasting result.

[0045] Incidentally, the display panel 22 comprises a normal CRT monitoror a liquid crystal display monitor.

[0046] Therefore, the control unit 46 in the system controller 20 has afunction of a first determining circuit for determining the operationstate of the endoscope system (first medical device), a function of asecond determining circuit for determining the operation state of theelectric knife system (second medical device), and a function of aforecasting circuit for forecasting the next operation based on thedetermination results of the first determining circuit and the seconddetermining circuit.

[0047] The remote controller 30 remotely controls the system controller20 by infrared.

[0048] Next, a description is given of the internal structure of thesystem controller 20 in the endoscope surgery system according to thefirst embodiment with reference to FIG. 2.

[0049] The system controller 20 comprises: a control signal receivingunit 41; an operation panel drive unit 42; a display panel drive unit43, a video signal processing unit 44; the radio communication unit 45;the control unit 46; a PC card drive unit 47; a hard disk 48; and apower supply unit 49.

[0050] The control unit 46 controls the control signal receiving unit41, the operation panel drive unit 42, the display panel drive unit 43,the video signal processing unit 44, the radio communication unit 45,the PC card drive unit 47, and the hard disk 48. The power supply unit49 supplies a desired DC power voltage to the components in the systemcontroller 20.

[0051] The control signal receiving unit 41 is operated under thecontrol of the control unit 46, receives the signal from the remotecontroller 30 or the operation panel 21, converts the received signal toreception data, and supplies the data to the control unit 46.

[0052] The operation panel drive unit 42 transmits, to the operationpanel 21, information necessary for display on the operation panel 21under the control of the control unit 46.

[0053] The display panel drive unit 43 transmits, to the display panel22, information necessary for display on the display panel 22 under thecontrol of the control unit 46.

[0054] The radio communication unit 45 communicates with the medicaldevices mounted on the trolley 12 shown in FIG. 1. Thus, the radiocommunication unit 45 radio-communicates, by IEEE 802.11b or IEEE802.11g, with the TV camera 13 for the endoscope, the light sourcedevice 14, the pneumoperitoneum equipment 15, the electric knife 16, andthe VTR 17, under the control of the control unit 46.

[0055] The PC card drive unit 47 receives and transmits data to/from anexternal personal computer, via the PC card 4 under the control of thecontrol unit 46.

[0056] The video signal processing unit 44 converts, into a digitalvideo signal, the radio signal of IEEE 802.11a transmitted from the TVcamera 13 for the endoscope under the control of the control unit 46,records the signal as a still image to the PC card 4 via the controlunit 46 and the PC card drive unit 47, converts the signal into ananalog signal again, then, and transmits the signal to the monitor 18via a cable by using wiring.

[0057] The hard disk 48 stores data for automatically setting thecontrol unit 46, reads the stored automatic setting data if necessary,and supplies the data to the control unit 46.

[0058] The control unit 46 (in the system controller 20) is operationstate detecting means which receives predetermined signals inputted fromthe TV camera 13 for the endoscope, the light source device 14, thepneumoperitoneum equipment 15, the electric knife 16, and the VTR 17 viathe radio communication unit 45 and which detects the operation statesof the medical devices.

[0059] Further, the control unit 46 (in the system controller 20) isdevice determining means which determines the predetermined medicaldevice to be operated next based on the detection result of the systemcontroller 20 (as the operation state detecting means).

[0060] The operation panel drive unit 42 and the display panel driveunit 43 are screen control means which displays, on the operation panel21 or the display panel 22 as predetermined display means, the operationscreen of the predetermined medical device to be operated next or thescreen for the information on the operation state of the predeterminedmedical device to be operated next, based on the determination result ofthe control unit 46 (device determining means).

[0061] The operation panel drive unit 42 functions as a display circuitwhich displays, on a predetermined monitor screen, the operation screento be forecasted as the next operation in accordance with theforecasting result of the control unit 46 (forecasting circuit) of thesystem controller 20.

[0062] Next, a detailed description is given of the control unit 46 inthe system controller 20 in the endoscope surgery system according tothe first embodiment with reference to FIG. 3.

[0063] Referring to FIG. 3, the control unit 46 is a board personalcomputer comprising a board 60, and comprises: a CPU 50; a RAM 51; andvarious general interfaces of the personal computer on the board 60,such as a serial port 52, parallel port 53, a LAN port 54, a PS/2 port55, a USB port 56, an FDD port 57 of a floppy (R) disk drive, an IDEport 58 of a hard disk drive, and a video port 59 for outputting thevideo signal.

[0064] Next, a detailed description is given of the remote controller 30in the endoscope surgery system according to the first embodiment withreference to FIG. 4.

[0065] Referring to FIG. 4, the remote controller 30 comprises; a casing61; a display unit 62; an operation button unit 63; a control unit 64;and a transmitting unit 65.

[0066] The display unit 62 is arranged on the surface of the casing 61,and displays operated equipment or a function of the remote controller30. The operation button unit 63 is arranged to the surface of thecasing 61 and is pressed by the user.

[0067] The casing 61 has the control unit 64 and the transmitting unit65.

[0068] The control unit 64 controls the display unit 62 and thetransmitting unit 65 based on the operation of the operation button unit63. The transmitting unit 65 transmits a radio signal to the systemcontroller 20 or the like shown in FIG. 1 under the control of thecontrol unit 64.

[0069] Next, a detailed description is given of the operation panel 21in the endoscope surgery system according to the first embodiment withreference to FIG. 5.

[0070] Referring to FIG. 5, the operation panel 21 controls the medicaldevices to be operated by a touch panel method.

[0071] The operation panel 21 comprises: a casing 71; a liquid crystaldisplay unit (hereinafter, referred to as an LCD unit) 72; a touch panelunit 73; a transmitting unit 74; and a control unit 75.

[0072] The LCD unit 72 is arranged to the surface of the casing 71, anddisplays operated equipment, a function, and an image of the operationbutton under the control of the control unit 75.

[0073] The touch panel unit 73 is overlappingly arranged to the surfaceof the LCD unit 72 and detects the touch position of the user.

[0074] The control unit 75 controls the LCD unit 72 and the transmittingunit 74 based on the operation of the touch panel unit 73. Thetransmitting unit 74 transmits the operation data to the systemcontroller 20 shown in FIG. 1 under the control of the control unit 75.

[0075] As mentioned above, the endoscope surgery system 11 shown in FIG.1 comprises a plurality of medical devices including the above endoscope31.

[0076] A description is given of the operation with the structureaccording to the first embodiment with reference to a flowchart shown inFIG. 6.

[0077] In a normal state of the endoscope surgery system 11, theoperation panel 21 displays a main screen 80 shown in FIG. 7, and thedisplay panel 22 displays a main screen 90 shown in FIG. 8.

[0078] Hereinbelow, a description is given of the operation foroutputting high-frequency current to the probe 33 for the electric knifefrom the electric knife 16 in the normal state.

[0079] The user (operator in this case) presses a foot switch (notshown) of the electric knife 16 and, then, the electric knife 16 outputsthe high-frequency current from the edge of the probe 33 for theelectric knife. The information is transmitted to the radiocommunication unit 45 in the system controller 20, and the systemcontroller 20 detects that the electric knife 16 outputs thehigh-frequency current and recognizes the detection information asinformation for outputting the electric knife in step S1 in FIG. 6.

[0080] Here, the operator of the electric knife 16 continues the usingoperation if the knife is keen. However, if the knife is not keen ascompared with his expectation, he confirms the setting. If the settingis wrong, the operator changes the setting.

[0081] Here, the knife is very dull or the desired high-frequencycurrent is not outputted after changing the setting and, then, theoperator considers that the electric knife 16 is damaged. Thus, thedevice is inspected by referring to trouble shooting.

[0082] When the system controller 20 recognizes the output state of theelectric knife 16, the next action of the operator is considered, suchas the confirmation for setting the electric knife 16, the settingchange, the reference of the trouble shooting of the electric knife 16.

[0083] In step S2 in FIG. 6, the system controller 20 previouslydisplays an operation screen 100 of the electric knife shown in FIG. 9on the operation panel 21 based on the above consideration, and furtherdisplays setting buttons (buttons 121 to 126) of the electric knife 16on the operation screen 100 of the electric knife. Next, in step S3 inFIG. 6, the system controller 20 displays a screen 110 for informationon the operation state of the electric knife shown in FIG. 10 on thedisplay panel 22, and further displays the setting of the electric knife16 on the operation screen 110 of the electric knife.

[0084] In step S4 in FIG. 6, the system controller 20 repeats theprocessing in step S4 while the electric knife 16 outputs thehigh-frequency current. In the case of ending the output of thehigh-frequency current by the electric knife 16, in step S5 in FIG. 6,the system controller 20 displays the main screen 80 shown in FIG. 7 onthe operation panel 21. In step S6 in FIG. 6, the display panel 22displays the main screen 90 shown in FIG. 8, and the processing ends.

[0085] In the flowchart shown in FIG. 6, the display operation of theoperation panel 21 and the display panel 22 is returned simultaneouslywith the end of outputting by the electric knife 16. However, thereturning timing may be one minute later after the ending of output.

[0086] A detailed description is given of the screens shown in FIGS. 7to 10.

[0087] Referring to FIG. 7, usually, the operation panel 21 displays themain screen 80.

[0088] An area 81 on the top of the main screen 80 displays a characterindicating the type of screen (main screen).

[0089] In the bottom of the area 81 in the main screen 80, an area 82 onthe left displays characters of menus for selecting the screen, such as“main”, “electric knife”, “pneumoperitoneum equipment”, . . . , and“image”. The operation panel 21 is exchanged by selecting and pressingthe characters of the menu.

[0090] In the bottom of the area 81 of main screen 80, an area 83 on theright from the middle portion displays setting contents of thepneumoperitoneum equipment 15.

[0091] An area 84 on the bottom of the area 83 in the main screen 80displays the setting contents of the electric knife 16.

[0092] An area 85 in the bottom of the area 84 in the main screen 80displays the setting contents of the TV 13.

[0093] Referring to FIG. 8, usually, the display panel 22 displays themain screen 90.

[0094] An area 91 on the upper left of the main screen 90 displays thesetting contents of the pneumoperitoneum equipment 15.

[0095] An area 92 on the down left of the display panel 22 displays theendoscope image picked up by the TV camera 13.

[0096] An area 93 on the upper right of the display panel 22 displaysthe setting contents of the electric knife 16.

[0097] The bottom of the area 93 in the display panel 22 displays, inthe descending order, an area 94 indicating the setting of a red tone ofthe TV camera 13, an area 95 indicating the setting of a blue tone ofthe TV camera 13, an area 96 indicating the setting of brightness of thelight source device 14, an area 97 indicating the setting of on/off ofan emergency lamp of the light source device 14, and an area 98indicating the setting of a VTR mode.

[0098] When the system controller 20 shown in FIG. 1 recognizes theoutput of the electric knife 16, referring to FIG. 9, the operationpanel 21 displays the operation screen 100 of the electric knife.

[0099] An area 101 on the top of the operation screen 100 of theelectric knife displays a character indicating the screen type (electricknife).

[0100] An area 102 on the left in the bottom of the area 101 in theoperation screen 100 of the electric knife displays characters of menusfor selecting the screen, such as “main”, “electric knife”,“pneumoperitoneum equipment”, . . . , and “image”.

[0101] An area 103 on the right from the middle is arranged in thebottom of the area 101 in the operation screen 100 of the electricknife. The area 103 displays the setting contents of an incision mode ofthe electric knife 16, the button 121 for selecting the incision mode,and the up-button 122 and the down-button 123 of the incision output.

[0102] An area 104 on the lower side of the area 103 of the operationscreen 100 of the electric knife displays the setting contents of acoagulation mode of the electric knife 16, the button 124 for selectingthe coagulation mode, and the up-button 125 and the down-button 126 fora coagulation output.

[0103] When the system controller 20 shown in FIG. 1 recognizes theoutput of the electric knife 16, referring to FIG. 10, the display panel22 displays the screen 110 for the information on the operation state ofthe electric knife.

[0104] An area 111 on the upper left of the screen 110 for theinformation of the operation state of the electric knife displays thesetting contents of the pneumoperitoneum equipment 15.

[0105] An area 112 on the down left of the display panel 22 displays theendoscope image picked up by the TV camera 13.

[0106] An area 113 on the upper right of the display panel 22 displaysthe setting contents of the electric knife 16.

[0107] The bottom of the area 113 in the display panel 22 displays, inthe descending order, an area 114 indicating the setting of the incisionmode of the electric knife 16, an area 115 indicating the setting thecoagulation mode of the electric knife 16, an area 116 indicating thesetting of the brightness of the light source device 14, an area 117indicating the setting of on/off of the emergency lamp of the lightsource device 14, and an area 118 indicating the setting of the VTRmode.

[0108] As medical processing equipment for heating, coagulating, andincising the body anatomy, an ultrasonic output device is used, inaddition to the electric knife 16. According to the first embodiment,upon using the ultrasonic output device, the similar display processingis performed on the operation panel 21 or the display panel 22. In thiscase, the ultrasonic output device applies ultrasonic vibrations to anedge portion of a clamp, generates the friction heat in the sandwichedbody anatomy, and coagulates or incises the anatomy.

[0109] According to the first embodiment, a recording device uses, e.g.,the VTR 17. The VTR 17 is used for the purpose of recording theendoscope image during the operation.

[0110] A video tape as a recording medium used for the VTR 17 is thatfor two hours, for six hours, or the like. Therefore, upon operationover a recording time, conventionally, the video tape ends in thehalfway and only a message indicating such a fact is displayedsimultaneously with the end of the video tape. Here, the remaining timeof the video tape is known from the VTR 17. Thus, according to the firstembodiment, when the remaining time is 10 minutes, a message instructingthe exchange of video tape is displayed on the operation panel 21 or thedisplay panel 22 and it is informed to the operator. Further, accordingto the first embodiment, the operation screen of the VTR 17 is displayedon the operation panel 21.

[0111] As the recording device, a video printer device can be used inaddition to the VTR. The remaining amount of ink ribbon of the videoprinter is known from the video printer. Thus, according to the firstembodiment, when the remaining amount of ink ribbon of the video printeris 10 pieces, a message instructing the exchange of ink ribbon isinformed to the operator on the operation panel 21 or the display panel22.

[0112] According to the first embodiment, a method for exchanging theink ribbon can be displayed on the screen of the operation panel 21 orthe display panel 22.

[0113] Further, according to the first embodiment, the following methodis considered in addition to the display operation of the medicaldevice.

[0114] The system controller 20 has a function for setting, in a lump,the medical devices to setting values which are previously inputted,namely, an automatic setting.

[0115] Usually, the automatic setting is performed in a preparing stepbefore the operation. As the operation in the preparing step, the whitebalance of the TV camera device for the endoscope is adjusted or therecording of the VTR starts.

[0116] That is, the system controller 20 displays a white balance screenof the TV camera device for the endoscope on the operation panel 21 orthe display panel 22 after completing the automatic setting.

[0117] After setting the white balance, the system controller 20displays the operation panel of the VTR on the operation panel 21 or thedisplay panel 22.

[0118] Further, the system controller 20 sequentially displaysforecasted operation screens on the operation panel 21 or the displaypanel 22.

[0119] According to the first embodiment, in the endoscope surgerysystem, the indexes to be operated next are displayed on the operationpanel 21 or the display panel 22 from the normal medical action and thepreparing action of the operator and, thus, the user who is not used tothe operation thereof can easily operate it.

[0120] Next, a description is given of an endoscope surgery systemaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention with referenceto FIGS. 11 and 12.

[0121] Referring to FIG. 11, a system controller 220 comprises: thecomponents of the system controller 20 shown in FIG. 2 according to thefirst embodiment; and a control unit 246 having operation log recordingcontrolling means 251, error log recording controlling means 252,reading means 253, VTR play controlling means 254, and display controlmeans 255.

[0122] When the above medical device is operated, the operation logrecording controlling means 251 records the operation contents as anoperation log file to the hard disk 48.

[0123] When the error is caused in the above medical device, the errorlog recording controlling means 252 records error contents as an errorlog file to the hard disk 48.

[0124] According to the second embodiment, the VTR 17 has means forrecording, to the video tape, time for starting the recording and timefor ending the recording.

[0125] Thus, with the above-mentioned structure, the operation logrecording controlling means 251, the error log recording controllingmeans 252, and the hard disk 48 are state change recording means whichrecords a state change of the medical device to the log file togetherwith the causing time, when the state of the medical device changes. TheVTR 17 is recording means which records the endoscope image.

[0126] When the VTR 17 is played, the reading means 253 reads start timeand end time of the recording to the video tape (recording medium) ofthe VTR 17. The recording means 253 reads the recording start time whichis recorded to the video tape (recording medium).

[0127] Therefore, the reading means 253 is recording-start-timerecording means which records the recording start time to the video tape(recording medium).

[0128] The VTR play controlling means 254 plays the VTR 17 based on thedata from the control signal receiving unit 41.

[0129] The VTR play controlling means 254 is play and display meanswhich plays and displays the video image recorded to the VTR 17(recording means) on the monitor 18 or the display panel 22.

[0130] The display control means 255 counts the play time of the VTR 17,calculates the time together with the start time, and displays, on themonitor 18 or the display panel 22, information recorded to theoperation log file or the error log file in the hard disk 48simultaneously with the generated image on the VTR 17.

[0131] Therefore, the display control means 255 comprises play countingmeans, calculating means, and log contents display means.

[0132] The play counting means of the display control means 255 countsthe play time of the VTR play controlling means 254 (play and displaymeans).

[0133] The calculating means of the display control means 255 calculatesthe actual play time by adding the recording start time read by thereading means 253 and the play counting time by the play counting means.

[0134] The log contents display means of the display control-means 255compares the actual play time calculated by the calculating means withthe occurrence time of the log file, and displays the log contents atthe occurrence time simultaneous with the actual play time.

[0135] Conventionally, the operation log and the error log are usuallyrecorded as text information. The operation log and the error log aremainly used by, a service person for maintenance. When the operation logand the error log have the text information, the performed operation andthe error index are known. However, the occurrence timing and situationof the performed operation and error are not known.

[0136] In addition to the service person, the operator reviews theoperation state or reports the operation state to another doctor.However, the occurrence timing and situation are not known.

[0137] To solve the difficult operation situations, according to thesecond embodiment, the operation log, the error log, and the endoscopeimage are displayed together to easily be viewed.

[0138] The medical devices are directly operated, thereby transmittingthe information to the system controller 220.

[0139] When the medical devices are operated via the operation panel 21,the information is transmitted to the system controller 220.

[0140] The operation log recording controlling means 251 in the controlunit 246 records the information as the operation log file into the harddisk 48 in the system controller 220.

[0141] When the error is caused in the medical devices, similarly to theoperation log file, the error information is transmitted to the systemcontroller 220.

[0142] The error log recording controlling means 252 in the control unit246 records the information as the error log file to the hard disk 48 inthe system controller 220.

[0143] The endoscope image during the operation is generally recorded tothe VTR 17. Upon starting to record the data of the VTR 17, the starttime and the end time are recorded and are stored in a video tape as arecording medium of the VTR 17.

[0144] Recently, the information may be recorded to recording devicessuch as the hard disk or a DVD device, in place of the VTR.

[0145] The above-stored video tape is played and then a screen 260 shownin FIG. 12 is displayed on the monitor 18 or the display panel 22.

[0146] The screen 260 comprises a play area 261 of the recording imageof the VTR 17, and a display area 262 for the operation log and theerror log. Upon playing the VTR 17, the start time recorded to the VTR17 is read to the reading means 253 and the play counting means in thedisplay control means 255 starts to play and counts the VTR 17. Based onthe start time and counting time, the log contents display means of thedisplay control means 255 searches for the operation log and the errorlog in the hard disk 48, and displays the indexes recorded to thecorresponding operation log and error log on the display area 262 forthe operation log and the error log.

[0147] According to the second embodiment, the operation log, the errorlog, and the endoscope image are simultaneously displayed. Thus, theinformation on the operation situation and the error occurrence iseasily viewed and the analysis of the device failure and of theoperation of the operator is easily performed.

[0148] Next, a description is given of an endoscope surgery systemaccording to a third embodiment of the present invention with referenceto FIGS. 13 to 15.

[0149] Referring to FIG. 13, a system controller 320 comprises a PCboard. The system controller 320 further comprises a LAN connector 361.

[0150] A hospital network 401 comprises a network board (not shown)having a LAN connector 401 a and a LAN cable 402 connected to thenetwork board.

[0151] The system controller 320 and the hospital network 401 connect aLAN connector 361 and a LAN connector 401 a via the LAN cable 402.

[0152] Referring to FIG. 14, the system controller 320 comprises theabove-mentioned components of the system controller 20 shown in FIG. 2according to the first embodiment and the LAN connector 361 forconnection to the hospital network 401.

[0153] Further, the system controller 320 includes, in a control unit346, setting value storage controlling means 351, ordering informationobtaining means 352, automatic setting file searching means 353, andautomatic setting executing means 354.

[0154] The setting value storage controlling means 351 stores a seriesof setting values of the connected medical devices by using a doctorname of the operation, into the hard disk 48 as an automatic settingfile.

[0155] The ordering information obtaining means 352 accesses thehospital network 402 upon turning on the system controller 320, andobtains its ordering information.

[0156] The automatic setting file searching means 353 selects the doctorname from the obtained ordering information, and searches for theautomatic setting file of the hard disk 48 based on the doctor name.

[0157] When the automatic setting file searching means 353 hits theautomatic setting file, the automatic setting executing means 354executes the automatic setting of the hit automatic setting file.

[0158] Conventionally, the automatic setting of the medical devices isperformed by a nurse who prepares for it. Recently, many hospitals havethe LAN for setting the schedule for the medical devices and the doctorschedule. In particular, the schedule of the medical devices takes rootas an ordering system.

[0159] According to the ordering system, it is known when and where, whoof the doctor uses the medical device.

[0160] Referring to FIG. 15, a data structure 403 of the orderinginformation comprises date, using time, using medical device, and doctorname.

[0161] The power supply of the system controller 320 is turned on, then,the system controller 320 accesses the hospital network 401, and itobtains the ordering information.

[0162] The ordering information includes that of another medical device.However, the operator's device can be recognized based on a device ID.The ordering information has the doctor name and can easily be obtained.

[0163] The system controller 320 compares the thus-obtained doctor namewith the name of the automatic setting data recorded in the hard disk48. If the obtained doctor name matches the name in the automaticsetting data, the system controller 320 executes the automatic settingof the automatic setting data of the name. If the doctor name does notmatch the name in the automatic setting data, the system controller 320performs no operation.

[0164] According to the third embodiment, the system controller 320 onlyreads the ordering information, thereby completing the automatic settingof the medical devices. Thus, the troublesomeness for setting themedical devices is removed and, further, the medical device can beoperated in accordance with the ordering. The arrangement time of themedical devices is reduced and the medical devices are available in ashort time.

[0165] Next, a description is given of an endoscope surgery systemaccording to a fourth embodiment with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 11, and12.

[0166] In the description of the fourth embodiment, FIG. 11 is a blockdiagram showing a main portion of a system controller of the endoscopesurgery system and FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a playscreen of a video scope of the VTR. Components (not shown in FIG. 11) inthe endoscope surgery system will be described with reference to FIGS. 1and 2.

[0167] Referring to FIG. 11, according to the fourth embodiment,operation log recording controlling means 251 records the operation ofthe medical devices as the operation log file into the hard disk 48.

[0168] The recording start and the recording stop of the VTR 17 arerecorded to the operation log file.

[0169] When the error is caused in the medical devices, error logrecording controlling means 252 records the error contents as an errorlog file into the hard disk 48.

[0170] The VTR play controlling means 254 plays the VTR 17 (refer toFIGS. 1 and 2) based on the data from the control signal receiving unit41.

[0171] Upon playing the VTR 17, the display control means 255 reads atimer counter value of the VTR 17, counts the play time of the VTR 17,calculates the time, and displays, on the monitor 18 (refer to FIGS. 1and 2) or the display panel 22 (refer to FIGS. 1 and 2), informationrecorded to the operation log file or the error log file in the harddisk 48 in accordance with the generating timing of the information,simultaneously with the generation of the VTR 17 image.

[0172] With the above structure, when the state of the medical devicechanges, the operation log recording controlling means 251, the errorlog recording controlling means 252, and the hard disk 48 are statechange recording means which records, to the log file, changeinformation and the occurrence time of the state change.

[0173] The VTR 17 is recording means which records the endoscope image.

[0174] The VTR play controlling means 254 is play and display meanswhich plays and displays the video image recorded to the recordingmedium of the VTR 17 (recording means) to the monitor 18 or the displaypanel 22.

[0175] The display control means 255 includes the play counting means,the calculating means, and the log contents display means.

[0176] The play counting means of the display control means 255 countsthe play time of the play and display means.

[0177] The calculating means of the display control means 255 reads therecording start time of the operation log file and a timer counter valueof the VTR 17, matches the read counter value to the play counting timeof the play counting means, and calculates the actual play time.

[0178] The log contents display means of the display control means 255compares the actual play time calculated by the calculating means withthe occurrence time of the operation log file, and displays the logcontents at the occurrence time simultaneous with the play time.

[0179] According to the fourth embodiment, the operation log and theerror log are displayed together with the endoscope image, therebyeasily using the system. The medical devices are directly operated orare operated via the operation panel 21 and, thus, the information istransmitted to the system controller 220. The operation log recordingcontrolling means 251 in the control unit 246 records the information asthe operation log file in the hard disk 48 in the system controller 220.Similarly to the recording of the operation log file, when the error iscaused in the medical device, such error information is recorded as theerror log file in the hard disk 48 in the system controller 220.

[0180] The endoscope image during the operation is generally recorded tothe VTR 17. Upon starting to record the data of the VTR 17, the starttime and the end time are recorded and are stored in the operation logfile.

[0181] The stored video tape is played and then the screen 260 shown inFIG. 12 is displayed on the monitor 18 or the display panel 22.

[0182] The screen 260 comprises a play area 261 of the recording imageof the VTR 17 and the display area 262 for the operation log and theerror log. The VTR 17 is played, the recording start time for recordingthe data to the operation log file and the timer counter value of theVTR are read to the calculating means of the display control means 255,and the play counting means starts the play counting operation of theVTR 17. The display control means 255 calculates the actual play timebased on the start time, the timer counter value, and the play countingtime.

[0183] The log contents display means of the display control means 255searches the operation log and the error log in the hard disk 48 fromthe actual play time, and displays the index recorded to thecorresponding operation log and error log on the display area 262 forthe operation log and the error log.

[0184] According to the fourth embodiment, the operation log, the errorlog, and the endoscope image are displayed together, thereby easilydisplaying the information on the operation situation and the erroroccurrence. Thus, the device failure is easily analyzed and, further,the operation of the operator is easily analyzed.

[0185] Having described the preferred embodiments of the inventionreferring to the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that thepresent invention is not limited to those precise embodiments andvarious changes and modifications thereof could be made by one skilledin the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventionas defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A medical system comprising: a first medicaldevice used for a first medical action; a second medical device used fora second medical action; a first determining circuit which determines anoperation state of the first medical device; a second determiningcircuit which determines an operation state of the second medicaldevice; a forecasting circuit which forecasts the next operation basedon detection results of the first determining circuit and the seconddetermining circuit; and a display circuit which displays, on a monitorscreen, an operation screen which is forecasted as the next operation inaccordance with a forecasting result of the forecasting circuit.
 2. Amedical system according to claim 1, wherein the first medical device isan endoscope system, the second medical device is an electric knife, asystem controller determines the operation states of the first andsecond medical devices and forecasts the next operation based on adetermination result, and an operation panel drive displays, on themonitor screen, the operation screen forecasted as the next operation inaccordance with a forecasting result of the system controller.
 3. Acontrol method of a medical system control device, comprising: a firstdetermining step of determining, by a first determining circuit, anoperation state of a first medical device used for a first medicalaction; a second determining step of determining, by a seconddetermining circuit, an operation state of a second medical device usedfor a second medical action an operation forecasting step of forecastingthe next operation based on a first determination result in the firstdetermining step and a second determination result in the seconddetermining step; and an operation screen display step of forming anoperation screen forecasted as the next operation in accordance with aforecasting result in the operation forecasting step and of displayingthe operation screen on a monitor screen.
 4. An endoscope surgery systemhaving a plurality of medical devices including an endoscope,comprising: operation state detecting means which detects operationstates of the plurality of medical devices; device determining meanswhich determines the medical device to be operated next based on adetection result of the operation state detecting means; and screencontrol means which displays, on predetermined display means, anoperation screen of the medical device to be operated next or a screenfor information on the operation state of the medical device to beoperated next, based on a determination result of the device determiningmeans.
 5. An endoscope surgery system having a plurality of medicaldevices including an endoscope, comprising: operation state detectingmeans which detects operation states of the plurality of medical device;device determining means which determines the medical device to beoperated next based on a detection result of the operation statedetecting means; and screen control means which displays, onpredetermined display means, an operation screen of the medical deviceor a screen for information on the operation state of the medical devicebased on a determination result of the device determining means.
 6. Anendoscope surgery system having a plurality of medical devices includingan endoscope, comprising: state change recording means which records achange and the occurrence time thereof to a log file when a state of themedical device changes; and recording means which records an endoscopeimage, wherein the recording means comprises: recording-start-timerecording means which records the recording start time to a recordingmedium; play and display means which plays and displays a video imagerecorded to the recording means; reading means which reads the recordingstart time recorded to the recording medium; play counting means whichcounts the play time of the play and display means; calculating meanswhich matches the recording start time read by the reading means to aplay counting time by the play counting means and which calculates anactual play time; and log contents display means which compares theactual play time calculated by the calculating means with an occurrencetime of the log file and which displays log contents of the occurrencetime simultaneous to the actual play time.